Mississippi takes its smoked meats seriously, and some of the best spots in the state have been feeding the same families for decades. From the Delta down to Natchez and out into the hill country, these barbecue joints have earned regular customers who plan road trips around them.
Some are drive-thru counters, some are family-run rooms with checked tablecloths, and a couple have been running since the 1950s. What they all share is staying power and food that keeps people driving back.
If you love ribs, pulled pork, brisket, and sweet tea, this is a list worth saving. Here are nine Mississippi barbecue spots that locals never seem to outgrow.
1. Abe’s Bar-B-Q, Clarksdale, MS
Sitting right where the blues highways cross in Clarksdale, Abe’s Bar-B-Q has been serving the Delta for generations and carries a real sense of history in its low-key, casual room.
The menu keeps things classic with a Bar-B-Q Pork Sandwich, a Rib Tip Plate, and racks of smoked pork ribs paired with Abe’s own tangy sauce. There is a Delta twist too, since tamales show up on the menu, including tamales with chili and chili cheese.
You can grab onion rings, a pint of the house barbecue sauce to take home, or a chili cheese burger if you want something off the smoker.
Service runs fast and friendly, with counter service, table service, and takeout all on offer. Parking is easy, and the spot stays open Monday through Saturday with a short window on Sunday.
It is the kind of place people refuse to skip whenever they pass through town, and newcomers tend to become regulars after one visit.
2. Tops Bar-B-Q & Burgers Corinth, Corinth, MS
Around since 1952, Tops brings Memphis-style barbecue to Corinth and has fed local families across several decades.
The counter-serve setup keeps it simple, with smoked barbecue, burgers, and traditional sides. Plenty of regulars come in on their lunch break, and the staff often know customers by name.
Portions run generous, and the to-go packaging is built to travel, so folks who live an hour or more away still make the run for a fresh box of barbecue.
Family packs are popular, and the drive-through makes quick pickups easy. Note that some sides, like slaw, may cost extra on the family packs.
Open every day from morning until night, it stays busiest around weekend afternoons and Sunday. If you grew up eating Tops, one bite tends to bring the whole memory back.
3. The Little Dooey of Starkville, Starkville, MS
Generations of Mississippi State students and returning alumni treat The Little Dooey as a Starkville staple, and the checked tablecloths and outdoor seating give it a down-home feel.
Barbecue is the heart of the menu, with a Pulled Pork Platter, a Beef Brisket Sandwich, and a Texas Toast BBQ Sandwich. Beyond the smoker, the kitchen also turns out catfish and seafood, so the range is wider than most joints.
Shareable starters like Dooey Nachos and the signature Dooey Cheese Fries are built for groups, and the Turnip Greens keep the sides section proper and Southern.
There is a bar onsite, live music at times, and a private dining room for bigger gatherings. It leans casual and family-friendly, with TVs and easy parking.
Weekends get packed, especially Friday and Saturday evenings, so plan around game-day crowds if you are visiting during football season.
4. Little Dooey, Columbus, MS
Ribs that fall right off the bone are the calling card at the Columbus Little Dooey, a longtime spot known for slow-smoked barbecue and Cajun seafood in warm, country-style digs.
Plates come loaded here. A super combo brings together pulled pork, ribs, and chicken, with sides like waffle fries, baked beans, mac and cheese, and potato salad rounding things out.
The pulled pork plate is a reliable favorite, and even the appetizers get a Southern touch with fried green tomatoes on the menu.
Prices stay affordable, the food is cooked to order, and the staff are known for treating folks well. Seating, counter service, and takeout are all available, with outdoor seating for nicer days.
Open Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday, it draws steady weekday lunch crowds and picks up on Friday. Regulars tend to promise themselves a return trip the moment they finish.
5. Ubon’s, Yazoo City, MS
Some folks ride 250 miles just to make Sunday lunch at Ubon’s, and that says plenty about this family-run spot on Jerry Clower Boulevard in Yazoo City.
Brisket is the headliner, cooked just right and served in large portions, but the ribs get just as much love. Fried pork chops, the beltbuster, slaw, and cobbler fill out a menu built on Southern comfort.
The house kool-aid has its own fan club, and portions here do not leave anyone hungry.
Beyond the food, this is a place that takes care of its people, running as a true family operation with award-winning barbecue behind it. It is also a welcoming, inclusive spot.
Hours run limited, with full evening service on Friday and Saturday and shorter lunch windows the rest of the week, so check the schedule before you drive in.
6. Sonny’s BBQ, Brandon, MS
Meats smoked over oak are the backbone of Sonny’s BBQ in Brandon, a long-standing spot that has kept a loyal following going for years.
The menu spreads wide, with Baby Back Ribs, a Beef Brisket Sandwich, and a barbecue salad that fans of pulled pork rave about. Sides run deep too, from Original Recipe BBQ Beans and corn nuggets to a baked potato, broccoli, and fried okra.
All-you-can-eat options and endless sides make it a solid choice for big appetites, and the sweet, signature sauce ties it together.
It is set up for families and groups, with a bar onsite, TVs for watching sports, a drive-through, and plenty of parking. Kids get their own menu and high chairs are available.
Open seven days a week, it fills up on weekend evenings and Sunday. Some folks have been eating here since it first arrived in the Jackson area.
7. Pig Out Inn Barbeque, Natchez, MS
Right in the middle of historic Natchez, Pig Out Inn Barbeque runs as a small mom-and-pop counter-serve joint with a funky, fun vibe and an enclosed patio.
The wood-fired smoker turns out pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and chicken, and the menu makes it easy to sample a little of everything with a 3 Meat Combo.
Pulled Pork Nachos are big enough to split, and the Rib Dinner, half rack of ribs, turkey sandwich, and sloppy joe keep the options coming.
Service moves fast, portions are large, and the casual atmosphere works whether you are dining solo or feeding a group. There is free wi-fi, easy parking, and dogs are welcome outside.
Open every day, it is the kind of place travelers work into their Natchez routine, sometimes eating there more than once on the same trip.
8. Dixieland Bar-B-Q, Batesville, MS
Pull up to the window on US-51 in Batesville and Dixieland Bar-B-Q gets you fed fast without sacrificing the good stuff.
The drive-through setup keeps things quick, but the barbecue holds its own with tender ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. A Rib Plate and pulled pork by the pound are the go-to orders.
Sides earn their keep here, including sweet slaw and potato salad, and the desserts get high marks, with banana pudding leading the way alongside a solid sweet tea selection.
Woman-owned and operated, it has built a reputation as some of the best pork in the area over many years. There is seating and outdoor seating, though no restroom, so plan accordingly.
Open Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday, it gets busiest Friday afternoon into evening, so be ready to wait a minute when the line stacks up.
9. Sonny’s Smokehouse, Ackerman, MS
Out along MS-15 in the small town of Ackerman, Sonny’s Smokehouse has built a name on brisket so tender it barely needs sauce.
The pitmaster is part of the draw here, known for craft and for chatting with guests about the work behind the scenes. Beyond brisket, the kitchen serves pulled pork, chicken, ribs, and even ribeye steaks in a laid-back setting.
Portions are generous, the sweet tea keeps flowing, and prices stay fair. Barbecue fans who travel the South for SEC football and tailgates have ranked it among the very best they have found.
The catch is the schedule. It only opens Thursday through Saturday, so a visit takes a little planning, and there is usually a wait once you arrive.
For a rural stop that punches well above its size, this one has earned its regulars and its road-trip reputation.
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